Prostate Cancer: Facts Every Guy Needs to Know

Did you know? September is considered as Prostate Cancer Awareness Month and one in nine men are likely to be diagnosed with prostate type cancer. Treatment of prostate cancer in India is provided by top-ranked hospitals.

What is Prostate Cancer?

Prostate cancer is the most common type of cancer in men. It occurs in the prostate gland - a small walnut-shaped gland that produces the seminal fluid that nourishes and transports sperm. If it is detected early, it has a better chance of successful treatment. The average prostate cancer treatment cost in India is 13,200 USD inclusive of medical evaluation, cost of surgery, hormone therapy if needed, and radiation.

Symptoms of Prostate Cancer:

• Frequent urination

• Bone Pain

• Change in bowel habits

• Trouble urinating (pain while passing urine)

• Blood in the urine and semen

• Weak or interrupted urine flow

• New onset of erectile dysfunction

• Discomfort or pain when sitting (caused by an enlarged prostate)

Can Prostate cancer be prevented?

Any cancer is a preventable illness based on the lifestyle choices you make. Several studies have been conducted to examine the relationship between dietary factors and the development of prostate cancer. The results of these studies have shown that increased intake of Vitamin E, lycopene, and selenium can reduce the risk of developing prostate cancer. In addition to all this, there is an association between lifetime testosterone levels and prostate cancer, which has led examiners to see whether finasteride, a hormone inhibitor, can reduce the risk of prostate cancer. In the study, it was proved that finasteride can reduce the risk of prostate cancer by 25%.

Cancer treatment in India includes several options depending on the condition of the patient.

Who is at the greatest risk of developing prostate cancer?

Three are several factors associated with developing prostate cancer including age, high-fat diets, family history, and being of African-American descent. Age remains the greatest risk factor for developing prostate cancer. This cancer is very rare among men-age 40 and is most commonly diagnosed in men over the age of 70. Men who have had a family history of prostate cancer are at a higher risk as well. Even a high-fat diet is associated with prostate cancer among men.

How can you tell if you have prostate cancer?

Unfortunately, prostate cancer is difficult to diagnose at an earlier stage as it doesn't show any symptoms until it has reached the advanced and incurable stage. Furthermore, symptoms such as difficulty while urinating are often caused by benign enlargement of the prostate rather than prostate cancer. The only best way to detect prostate cancer at an early stage is through regular screening of the PSA level of blood test and a prostate examination by a physician.

What are the Options of treatment of early-stage prostate cancer and how do patients choose?

There are several options that can treat and cure prostate cancer at an early stage and each of them has shown to produce similar results. The standard treatment option to cure prostate cancer that has not spread to distant sites includes the following:

• Surgery to remove the tumor in the prostate

• External beam radiation therapy

• Radiation with seed implant

• Observation

No single approach to cure cancer is best for everyone. Many factors such as age, Gleason score, general health, PSA level in the blood, size, and location of cancer, and individual preferences of the patient determine which treatment option is best for any given individual. It is always advisable to consider a second opinion and carefully consider all the treatment options available.

How is more advanced prostate cancer treated?

Cancer that has spread beyond the prostate gland but not to the distant sites can be treated given the following:

• Combination of surgery or radiation therapy

• Chemotherapy

• Hormonal therapy

• Newer precision medicines

Once cancer has spread to distant sites, hormonal therapy, and chemotherapy, a treatment designed to markedly lower the level of testosterone in the blood, are the mainstay of the treatment.

Currently, chemotherapy is also used when hormonal therapy is no longer working and is being evaluated for use in the early stages. Both chemotherapy and hormonal therapy cannot cure advanced stages of prostate cancer but both can keep the disease at bay by protecting the quality of life and extending survival. Prostate cancer treatment in India is provided by top-ranked hospitals.

A head consultant and an upcoming doctor having 11 years+ experience in the field of medicines. Honoured to be a part of HBG Medical Assistance.